Taiwan

One of the original Four Asia Tigers, Taiwan has grown by leaps and bounds over the past 50 years to become a fully modernized, industrialized nation and a top player in the global economy. While cultural barriers still exist, American visitors will be comforted by the Taiwanese love of basketball and baseball, the proliferation of 24-hour convenience stores, the enthusiastic cheerleading performances, and the ubiquitous billiards and karaoke. Western art forms thrive in Taiwan. (Taiwanese film director Ang Lee produced the Oscar winners Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Brokeback Mountain.)

Taiwan applies some of the world's highest healthcare standards, with dozens of new hospitals and clinics, mostly located in Taipei, its capital. While medical travelers from nearby Japan are a major market, recent centralized efforts are underway to westernize Taiwan's health centers and promote medical tourism from the US, UK, and other English-speaking nations.

While US healthcare languishes in an expensive, often counterproductive "heal the sick" mindset, Taiwan's focus is clearly preventive. Comprehensive healthcare screenings abound, and Taiwan's close cultural ties to China have produced a wealth of alternative and complementary therapies and procedures. Taiwan's specialties include cardiology, orthopedics, weight-loss surgery, and fertility treatments. Costs are generally on par with Thailand and Singapore—with savings of 30—60 percent over comparable care in the US.

Although suffering from pollution and traffic snarls, Taiwan's principal cities are modern, friendly, and safe, with a brand-new, high-speed bullet-train system connecting the island's major industrial and population centers. Situated off the coast of mainland China between South Korea and Hong Kong, Taiwan enjoys a more temperate climate than India, Malaysia, or Singapore—a real plus for many Western medical travelers. Taiwan's beautiful and wild mountainous region on the east side of the island provides an array of luxury recovery accommodations, vacation attractions, and sightseeing opportunities.

At a Glance

•   Language   Mandarin Chinese, Taiwanese, Hakka (English spoken by many health professionals)
•   Time Zone   GMT +8
•   Country Dialing Code   886
•   Electricity   110V, plug type A
•   Currency   Taiwan dollar
•   Recommended Immunizations   Hepatitis A
•   Treatment Specialties   Cardiology, Orthopedics, Weight Loss, Fertility, Health Screening, Ophthalmology
•   JCI-Accredited Hospitals   Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital; Changhua Christian Hospital; E-Da Hospital; Koo Foundation Sun Yat-Sen Cancer Center; National Taiwan University Hospital; Min-Sheng General Hospital; Shuang Ho Hospital—Taipei Medical University; Taipei Medical University Hospital; Tungs' Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital—Wuchi Campus; Wan Fang Hospital
•   Standards and Accreditation   Taiwan Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation, Taiwan Hospital Association, Public Hospital Association, Taiwan College of Healthcare Executives, JCI

 

Patients Beyond Borders: Everybody's Guide to Affordable, World-Class Medical Travel The world's bestselling guide to the most popular international hospitals and clinics, specialty treatments and procedures, accommodations, and more. Hundreds of listings, and helpful advice to ensure your successful medical journey. Learn more... "A must-read for those considering medical tourism." —ABC News

 

Healthy Travel Media © 2010
Visit patientsbeyondborders.com for more information.